Fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastener including a reversing member (4) having a long side portion (4a,4b) curved so that a central region in a longitudinal direction protrudes; and a plurality of comb teeth (10,12) connected at one end to the long side portion, another end of the comb teeth being a free end. The comb teeth extend in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the long side portion, and the comb teeth are arranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the long side portion. The comb teeth include a first and second comb teeth at least having different lengths from the one end to the other end, and the first and second comb teeth are disposed adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion, and extend side by side from the one end to the other end.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fastener for sandwiching and fixingan object, particularly a fastener applicable for fixing a wig base onwhich false hair is planted to a user's head.

BACKGROUND ART

In order to fix the wig base on which the false hair is planted to theuser's head, a fastener for a wig may be used. The fastener for a wig isattached to the back surface side (side in contact with the user's head)of the wig base with a sewing thread or the like, and can fix the wigbase to the user's head by sandwiching the hair of the user with thefastener for a wig. Among such fasteners for a wig, there has beenproposed a fastener using a reversing member to which a plurality ofcomb teeth are attached (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). In thefastener for a wig described in Patent Literature 1, after the combteeth are opened and the user's hair is scooped up with the comb teeth,the reversing member is reversed and the comb teeth are closed, wherebythe user's hair can be sandwiched and fixed between the comb teeth andthe reversing member.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: Utility Model Registration No. 3221833

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In the fastener for a wig described in Patent Literature 1, theplurality of comb teeth attached to the reversing member are formed tohave the same length. In general, human hair grows in multiple stages,is quite voluminous, has different lengths, and has different hairstreams. For this reason, when the lengths of the comb teeth are thesame, the tips of the comb teeth are aligned in a straight line.Therefore, when the tips of the comb teeth touch the hair, the hairstreams deviate, and the hair escapes, so that it is difficult to scoopup a sufficient amount of hair.

In addition, when the tips of the comb teeth are aligned in a straightline, the sandwiched hair tends to be oriented along the extendingdirection of the comb teeth, and there is a possibility that thefastener cannot be fixed with a sufficient force.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, andan object of the present invention is to provide a fastener capable ofswitching between a state in which comb teeth are closed and a state inwhich comb teeth are opened by reversing a reversing member, thefastener capable of sandwiching more user's hair and of being firmlyfixed to the user's hair.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above problems, a fastener according to thepresent invention includes: a reversing member having a long sideportion curved so that a central region in a longitudinal directionprotrudes, the reversing member made of an elastic material; and aplurality of comb teeth, each of the plurality of comb teeth connectedat one end to the long side portion, another end of each of theplurality of comb teeth being a free end, the plurality of comb teethextending in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of thelong side portion, the plurality of comb teeth arranged at predeterminedintervals along the longitudinal direction of the long side portion. Theplurality of comb teeth include a first comb tooth and a second combtooth at least having different lengths from the one end to the otherend, and the first comb tooth and the second comb tooth are disposedadjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the long sideportion. The plurality of comb teeth are changed to a state of being inproximity to and a state of being apart from the reversing member byreversing of the reversing member.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, the present invention can provide a fastener capableof switching between a state in which comb teeth are closed and a statein which comb teeth are opened by reversing a reversing member, thefastener capable of sandwiching more user's hair and of being firmlyfixed to the user's hair.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a reversing memberconstituting a fastener according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a fastener according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a side view as viewed from an arrow C in FIG. 2 , andparticularly, a view showing a state in which comb teeth are closed.

FIG. 3B is a side view as viewed from an arrow C in FIG. 2 , andparticularly, a view showing a state in which comb teeth are opened.

FIG. 4A is a plan view schematically showing a region of comb teeth of afastener according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a plan view schematically showing a region of comb teeth of afastener according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a plan view schematically showing a region of comb teeth of afastener according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a view (photograph) showing a fastener of an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5B is a view (photograph) showing a fastener of a comparativeexample being a conventional fastener.

FIG. 6 is a view (photograph) showing a test of measuring the number ofhairs that can be scooped up with comb teeth using the fastener of theexample.

FIG. 7A is a view (photograph) showing a state of hair when hair issandwiched between the comb teeth and the reversing member using thefastener of the example.

FIG. 7B is a view (photograph) showing a state of hair when hair issandwiched between the comb teeth and the reversing member using thefastener of the comparative example.

FIG. 8 is a view (photograph) showing measuring, using a spring balance,a force capable of sandwiching the hair between the comb teeth and thereversing member of the fastener and fixing the fastener to the hair.

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a wig to which the fasteneraccording to the present invention is attached.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. The embodiments describedbelow are intended to embody the technical idea of the presentinvention, and the present invention is not limited to the followingembodiments unless otherwise specified.

In each of the drawings, member having the same function may be denotedby the same reference numerals. In consideration of the description ofthe main points or ease of understanding, the embodiments may be shownseparately for convenience, but partial replacement or combination ofconfigurations shown in different embodiments is possible. In theembodiments described below, descriptions of matters common to theabove-described embodiment will be omitted, and only different pointswill be described. In particular, the same action and effect by the sameconfiguration will not be mentioned one by one for each embodiment. Thesizes, positional relationships, and the like of the members shown ineach drawing may be exaggeratedly shown for clarity of description.

Fastener According to First Embodiment of Present Invention

First, a fastener according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B.FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a reversing memberconstituting a fastener according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a fasteneraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is aside view as viewed from an arrow C in FIG. 2 , and particularly, a viewshowing a state in which comb teeth are closed. FIG. 3B is a side viewas viewed from an arrow C in FIG. 2 , and particularly, a view showing astate in which comb teeth are opened.

<Reversing Member>

FIG. 1 shows a planar shape of the reversing member 4 in an initialstate before deformation. The reversing member 4 according to thepresent embodiment is formed of a metal thin plate being an elasticmaterial. However, the material is not limited thereto, and any othermaterial including a resin material can be used as long as the materialhas elasticity. In the initial state, the reversing member 4 has asubstantially quadrilateral planar shape including a long side portion 4a, another long side portion 4 b facing the long side portion 4 a, andtwo facing short side portions 4 c and 4 d 1/d2.

In the short side portion 4 d 1/d2 on the left side of the figure, theshort side portion 4 d 1 and the short side portion 4 d 2 are apart fromeach other, and it can also be said that the reversing member 4 in theinitial state has a substantially C-shaped planar shape. A coupling hole22 a and a coupling hole 22 b are provided near the end portions of theshort side portion 4 d 1 and the short side portion 4 d 2 across theseparated space. A center-to-center distance between the coupling hole22 a and the coupling hole 22 b is indicated by D.

The long side portion 4 a is attached with a plurality of comb teeth 10and 12 each connected to the long side portion 4 a at one end (see anarrow A in FIG. 1 ), and each having a free end at the other end (see anarrow B in FIG. 1 ). More specifically describing the comb teeth 10 and12, they have the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12having different lengths from one end to the other end. The first combtooth 10 is formed longer than the second comb tooth 12.

The first comb tooth 10 includes a shaft portion 10 a and asubstantially spherical head portion 10 b provided at a free end of theshaft portion 10 a. Similarly, the second comb tooth 12 includes a shaftportion 12 a and a substantially spherical head portion 12 b provided ata free end of the shaft portion 12 a. The first comb tooth 10 and thesecond comb tooth 12 are formed of a metal material, and are attached tothe long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4 by welding orbrazing, for example.

The first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 extend in adirection substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of thelong side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4. However, the first combtooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are not always necessary to beorthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a,and may extend in a direction obliquely inclined with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a. However, the firstcomb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are preferably disposedsubstantially parallel to each other.

To summarize the above description, it can be said that the first combtooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 extend in a direction intersectingthe longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a of the reversingmember 4. The first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 arearranged at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction ofthe long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4.

The reversing member 4, the first comb tooth 10, and the second combtooth 12 can be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel,carbon steel, aluminum, copper, or titanium. Furthermore, coating canalso be performed on the surface of the sheet metal, and in particular,coating on the metal surface is effective to cope with a metal allergy.In order to improve the feel when worn, for example, rubber touchcoating can be applied, or any other material can be coated according tothe application.

Regarding the dimensions of the reversing member 4, 0.15 to 2 mm can beexemplified as the thickness, 20 to 50 mm can be exemplified as thelength on the long side portion side (see W in FIGS. 1 ), and 6 to 30 mmcan be exemplified as the length on the short side portion side. Inaddition, 8 to 30 mm can be exemplified as the length of the comb teeth10 and 12, and 0.3 to 2 mm can be exemplified as the outer diameter ofthe shaft portions 10 a and 12 a of the comb teeth 10 and 12. Inaddition, 1 to 3 mm can be exemplified as the interval between adjacentcomb teeth 10 and 12. However, these dimensions are exemplary whenapplied to the wig, and any other dimension can be adopted according tothe application.

From this initial state, as indicated by a dotted arrow in FIG. 1 , thereversing member 4 is deformed so that the coupling hole 22 a and thecoupling hole 22 b having had the center-to-center distance D overlapwith each other, and is fastened by the coupling member 20, whereby thefastener 2 as shown in FIG. 2 can be formed. At this time, the long sideportion 4 a and the other long side portion 4 b facing each other arecurved so that the central region in the longitudinal directionprotrudes.

For example, with a metal rivet as the coupling member 20, the rivet isinserted and then the inserted tip portion is plastically deformed, sothat the coupling can be made. That is, “swaging” enables coupling.However, the coupling method is not limited thereto, and for example,mechanical coupling can be made using other coupling members such as abolt and a nut, or coupling can be made by welding. However, it isconsidered that the use of the coupling member 20 is more excellent inoperability because there is a margin for the overlapped couplingregions to relatively move.

<Fastener>

The reversing member 4 of the fastener 2 formed as described above has asubstantially rectangular planar shape including four sides. As shown inFIG. 3A, in the long side portion 4 a and the other long side portion 4b facing each other, when the central region in the longitudinaldirection is curved so as to protrude downward in the figure, the firstcomb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 come close to the reversingmember 4, and the state is maintained by the elastic force of thereversing member 4. That is, the state in which the first comb tooth 10and the second comb tooth 12 are closed is maintained by the elasticforce of reversing member 4.

From this state, when the user reverses the reversing member 4 andcurves the reversing member 4 so that the central region in thelongitudinal direction thereof protrudes upward in the figure, in thelong side portion 4 a and the other long side portion 4 b facing eachother, as shown in FIG. 3B, the state is changed to a state in which thefirst comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are apart from thereversing member 4. Then, the state is maintained by the elastic forceof the reversing member 4. That is, the state in which the first combtooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are opened is maintained by theelastic force of reversing member 4.

Accordingly, in a state where the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12are opened, the user's hair is scooped up by the first and second combteeth 10 and 12, a predetermined amount of hair is inserted between thefirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4, andthen the reversing member 4 is reversed, and the first and second combteeth 10 and 12 are changed from an opened state to a closed state,whereby the predetermined amount of hair can be sandwiched between thefirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4 to beheld.

Since the reversing member 4 of the fastener 2 has a substantiallyrectangular planar shape, a state in which the first and second combteeth 10 and 12 are opened and a state in which the first and secondcomb teeth 10 and 12 are closed can be stably maintained, and openingand closing of the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 can be changedby easily reversing the reversing member 4.

In addition, a friction member 6 is provided on the entire surface ofthe other long side portion 4 b of the reversing member 4. As thefriction member 6, an elastic material having a high frictioncoefficient such as rubber including silicon, elastomer, or urethane canbe used. For example, in the initial state, the friction member formedin a tubular shape 6 is inserted from the separation region (see FIG. 1) of the reversing member 4, attached so as to cover the other long sideportion 4 b, and then the reversing member 4 is deformed and coupled,whereby the other long side portion 4 b of the reversing member 4 can beprovided with the friction member 6. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto, and after the reversing member 4 is deformed andcoupled, the friction member 6 can also be attached to the other longside portion 4 b by adhesion or the like.

In the present embodiment, since the other long side portion 4 b isprovided with the friction member 6, the force of holding the hairbetween the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 and the frictionmember 6 can increase in a state where the first and second comb teeth10 and 12 are closed, and the fastener 2 can be more reliably fixed tothe hair.

It should be noted that the reversing member 4 is provided with a totalof five attaching holes 24 including two attaching holes on the leftside and three attaching holes on the right side in the figure.Furthermore, a central portion of the coupling member 20 is also opened,and substantially three attaching holes on each of the left and rightsides are provided. The fastener 2 can be sewn onto the wig base, with asewing thread or the like passing through the attaching hole 24 or thelike. In addition, the attaching hole 24 reduces the weight of thefastener 2, and makes the reversing member 4 easily deformed.

<Condition of Opening of Comb Teeth>

As described above, in the initial state, by deforming the reversingmember 4 until the positions of the coupling holes 22 a and 22 bseparated by the center-to-center distance D coincide with each other,the long side portion 4 a and the other long side portion 4 b arecurved. At this time, the larger the center-to-center distance D betweenthe coupling holes 22 a and 22 b is than the length W (see FIG. 1 ) inthe longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a, the moregreatly the reversing member 4 is deformed, and the degree of curvatureof the long side portion 4 a and the other long side portion 4 b can beincreased.

Accordingly, the opening angle formed by the first and second comb teeth10 and 12 and the reversing member 4 can be made larger in a state wherethe first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 are opened. Therefore, sincethe hair can be inserted to the vicinity of the root portion where thefirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12 are fixed to the reversing member4, more hair can be inserted. When the opening angles of the comb teeth10 and 12 in the opened state are large, the distance between the tipsof the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4can be increased. Accordingly, hair can be easily inserted between theopened first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4.

As described above, in order to increase the opening angle formed by thefirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4, it hasbeen found that when the value of D/W is 0.15 or more between thecenter-to-center distance (that is, the movement amount from the initialstate to the superposed state) D of the coupling holes 22 a and 22 b andthe length W in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a,the distance between the tips of the first and second comb teeth 10 and12 and the reversing member 4 can be sufficiently increased. Forexample, when the length of first comb tooth 10 is about 12 mm, adistance of about 6 mm can be taken between the tip of the first combtooth 10 and the reversing member 4 in the opened state.

However, when the center-to-center distance D between the coupling holes22 a and 22 b is too large with respect to the length W of the long sideportion 4 a, the deformation of the reversing member 4 is too large, anda large force is required when the reversing member 4 is reversed.

When the above is comprehensively determined, between thecenter-to-center distance D of the coupling holes 22 a and 22 b and thelength W of the long side portion 4 a, it can be said that a followingrelationship is preferably satisfied:

0.15≤D/W≤0.17.

As described above, by setting the center-to-center distance D betweenthe coupling holes 22 a and 22 b within the above range with respect tothe length W of the long side portion 4 a, it is possible to increasethe opening angle formed by the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12and the reversing member 4 in the opened state, and to achieve thefastener 2 capable of easily reversing the reversing member 4.

(Length of Comb Teeth)

The fastener 2 according to the present embodiment includes the firstcomb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 having different lengths fromone end (see arrow A in FIG. 1 ) to the other end (see arrow B in FIG. 1), and the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are disposedadjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the long sideportion 4 a of the reversing member 4. In general, human hair grows inmultiple stages, is quite voluminous, has different lengths, and hasdifferent hair streams.

In order to sandwich the user's hair in the fastener 2 to fix thefastener 2 to the hair, it is necessary to insert the hair between thefirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12 in the opened state and thereversing member 4. In the fastener 2 according to the presentembodiment, since the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12having different lengths are disposed adjacent to each other, the hairescaping and failing to be scooped up when hair is attempted to bescooped up by the first comb tooth 10 having a longer length can bescooped up by the adjacent second comb tooth 12 having a smaller length.Accordingly, more hair can be easily put into between the first andsecond comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4.

Furthermore, in the case where the first comb tooth 10 and the secondcomb tooth 12 having different lengths form an uneven tip shape as inthe present embodiment, when the hair is sandwiched between the combteeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4, the hair is oriented notonly in the extending direction of the comb teeth 10 and 12 but also ina direction oblique to the extending direction of the comb teeth. Asdescribed above, since the sandwiched hair is entangled with the combteeth 10 and 12 at various angles, a force of sandwiching and fixing thehair with the fastener 2 can be increased. Therefore, the fastener 2 canbe firmly and stably fixed to the user's hair.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide afastener 2 capable of switching between a state in which the comb teethare closed and a state in which the comb teeth are opened by reversingthe reversing member 4, the fastener 2 capable of easily sandwichingmore hair between the comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4,the fastener 2 capable of being firmly and stably fixed to the user'shair.

More specifically, in the fastener 2 according to the presentembodiment, in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 aof the reversing member 4, a first comb teeth region 10A including twofirst comb teeth 10 arranged adjacent to each other and a second combteeth region 12A including two second comb teeth 12 arranged adjacent toeach other are arranged adjacent to each other. The first comb teethregion 10A and second comb teeth region 12A respectively including aplurality of comb teeth 10 and 12 arranged adjacent to each other allowthe hair to be more reliably scooped up, and allow the hair having notbeen scooped up in the first comb teeth region 10A to be reliablyscooped up in the adjacent second comb teeth region 12A having a shorterlength.

Furthermore, the present embodiment has an arrangement pattern in whichthe first comb teeth region 10A and the second comb teeth region 12A arealternately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the long sideportion 4 a of the reversing member 4. Referring to FIG. 2 , from theleft in the figure, the first comb teeth region 10A, the second combteeth region 12A, the first comb teeth region 10A, the second comb teethregion 12A, and the first comb teeth region 10A are arranged in thisorder.

With this arrangement pattern, the hair can be reliably sandwichedbetween the comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4 insubstantially the entire region in the longitudinal direction of thelong side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4.

Furthermore, with this arrangement pattern, the first comb tooth 10 andthe second comb tooth 12 are arranged bilaterally symmetrically withrespect to the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the longside portion 4 a of the reversing member 4. This symmetrical arrangementallows the hair to be sandwiched in a well-balanced manner between thecomb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4, and thus fixation inwhich the fastener 2 is less likely to be displaced from the hair can beachieved.

<Position of Head Portion of Comb Teeth>

The free ends of the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 are providedwith substantially spherical head portions 10 b and 12 b, and the headportions 10 b and 12 b are positioned outside the substantiallyquadrilateral planar shape of the reversing member 4. Accordingly, it ispossible to cause the first and second comb teeth 10 and 12 to easilyscoop up the user's hair. On the other hand, when the first and secondcomb teeth 10 and 12 extend too long, the head portions 10 b and 12 bare more likely to be caught in the net of the wig when the fastener 2is attached to the wig base.

In the fastener 2 according to the present embodiment, since thefastener 2 can be firmly fixed to the user's hair, in the substantiallyquadrilateral planar shape of the reversing member 4, even when thelengths of the two facing short side portions 4 c and 4 d 1/d2 areshortened, a sufficient force of fixing can be obtained. Therefore, evenwhen the head portions 10 b and 12 b of the first and second comb teeth10 and 12 are positioned outside the substantially quadrilateral planarshape of the reversing member 4, the first and second comb teeth 10 and12 do not extend too long. Accordingly, it is possible to provide afastener 2 making it easy to scoop up the user's hair and less likely tobe caught in the net of the wig.

Fasteners According to Other Embodiments of the Present Invention

The arrangement of the comb teeth having different lengths is notlimited to the first embodiment, and any other arrangement of comb teethcan be adopted as long as the first comb tooth 10 and the second combtooth 12 having at least different lengths are provided, and the firstcomb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are arranged adjacent to eachother in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a of thereversing member 4. As an example, a fastener according to second tofourth embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to FIGS. 4A to 4C.

Fastener According to Second Embodiment

FIG. 4A is a plan view schematically showing a region of comb teeth of afastener according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Inthe fastener 2 according to the present embodiment, in the longitudinaldirection of the long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4, afirst comb teeth region 10A including one first comb tooth 10 and asecond comb teeth region 12A including one second comb tooth 12 shorterthan the first comb tooth 10 are arranged adjacent to each other. In thefirst embodiment, the first and second comb teeth regions 10A and 12Arespectively include a plurality of first and second comb teeth 10 and12 arranged adjacent to each other, but in the present embodiment, it isdifferent in that the first and second comb teeth regions 10A and 12Arespectively include one first and second comb teeth 10 and 12.

However, similarly to the first embodiment, in the longitudinaldirection of the long side portion 4 a of reversing member 4, anarrangement pattern in which the first comb teeth region 10A and thesecond comb teeth region 12A are alternately arranged is provided, andthe first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are symmetricallyarranged with respect to the central portion.

As described above, since the first and second comb teeth regions 10Aand 12A respectively include one first and second comb teeth 10 and 12,even when the length of the long side portions 4 a of the reversingmember 4 are the same, it is possible to increase the number of statesin which comb teeth having different lengths are adjacent to each other.Accordingly, a function of scooping up hair that has not been scooped upby the first comb tooth 10 with the adjacent second comb tooth 12 havinga smaller length can be more effectively exhibited.

Fastener According to Third Embodiment

FIG. 4B is a plan view schematically showing a region of comb teeth of afastener according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Inthe fastener 2 according to the present embodiment, in the longitudinaldirection of the long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4, afirst comb teeth region 10A including two first comb teeth 10 arrangedadjacent to each other and a second comb teeth region 12A including onesecond comb tooth 12 shorter than the first comb tooth 10 are arrangedadjacent to each other. In the first embodiment, the first and secondcomb teeth regions 10A and 12A respectively include the same number offirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12 arranged adjacent to each other,but in the present embodiment, it is different in that the first andsecond comb teeth regions 10A and 12A include the different number offirst and second comb teeth 10 and 12.

However, similarly to first embodiment, an arrangement pattern isprovided in which the first comb teeth region 10A and the second combteeth region 12A are alternately arranged in the longitudinal directionof the long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4. Referring toFIG. 4B, from the left in the figure, the second comb teeth region 12A,the first comb teeth region 10A, the second comb teeth region 12A, thefirst comb teeth region 10A, the second comb teeth region 12A, the firstcomb teeth region 10A, and the second comb teeth region 12A are arrangedin this order. In addition, similarly to first embodiment, the firstcomb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 are arranged bilaterallysymmetrically with respect to the central portion in the longitudinaldirection of the long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4.

In the present embodiment, since the number of first comb teeth 10having a larger length is large, more hair can be scooped up using thefirst comb teeth 10.

Fastener According to Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 4C is a plan view schematically showing a region of comb teeth of afastener according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Inthe fastener 2 according to the present embodiment, in the longitudinaldirection of the long side portion 4 a of the reversing member 4, it isdifferent from the first embodiment in that a third comb teeth region14A including one third comb tooth 14 shorter than the second comb tooth12 is provided, in addition to a first comb teeth region 10A includingtwo first comb teeth 10 arranged adjacent to each other and a secondcomb teeth region 12A including one second comb tooth 12 shorter thanthe first comb tooth 10.

However, similarly to first embodiment, the first comb tooth 10, thesecond comb tooth 12, and the third comb tooth 14 are arrangedbilaterally symmetrically with respect to the central portion.

In the present embodiment, since the third comb tooth 14 shorter thanthe second comb tooth 12 is disposed adjacent to the second comb tooth12, hair that has not been scooped up by the first comb tooth 10 can bescooped up by the adjacent second comb tooth 12 having a smaller length,and furthermore, hair that has not been scooped up by the second combtooth 12 can be scooped up by the adjacent third comb tooth 14 having astill smaller length. Therefore, more hair can be effectively sandwichedbetween the comb teeth 10, 12, and 14 and the reversing member 4.

As described above, in consideration of making a large number of statesin which comb teeth with different lengths are adjacent to each otherwithout unnecessarily increasing the length of the long side portion 4 aof the reversing member 4, the number of comb teeth 10, 12, and 14 inthe respective comb teeth regions 10A, 12A, and 14A is preferably about1 to 3. In addition, in consideration of the balance of the amount ofhair scooped up by the respective comb teeth regions 10A, 12A, and 14A,the numbers of the comb teeth 10, 12, and 14 in the respective combteeth regions 10A, 12A, and 14A are preferably the same or within adifference of about 1 or 2 even when there is a difference in thenumber.

EXAMPLES

Next, with the fastener 2 according to the first embodiment beingactually manufactured as an example, and with the conventional fastener102 as a comparative example, a result of performing a comparative testwill be described. FIG. 5A is a view (photograph) showing a fastener ofan example of the present invention. FIG. 5B is a view (photograph)showing a fastener of a comparative example being a conventionalfastener. The example shown in FIG. 5A has the same structure as thefastener 2 according to the first embodiment and includes a first combtooth 10 and a second comb tooth 12 having different lengths. On theother hand, in the comparative example being a conventional fastener,all the comb teeth have the same length. It should be noted that exceptfor the length of the comb teeth, the example and the comparativeexample have substantially the same shape.

Example 1

First, with reference to FIG. 6 , a description will be given of theexample 1 in which the number of hairs scooped up with the comb teeth ofthe fastener is compared. FIG. 6 is a view (photograph) showing a testof measuring the number of hairs that can be scooped up with comb teethusing the fastener of the example.

As shown in FIG. 6 , a test in which 100 sewing threads likened to hairwere fixed to a plate, and the sewing threads were sandwiched betweencomb teeth and a reversing member with each of the fastener 2 of theexample shown in FIG. 5A and the fastener 102 of the comparative exampleshown in FIG. 5B was performed 10 times. The results are shown in thefollowing table.

TABLE 1 First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenthtime time time time time time time time time time Average Example 33 3230 26 35 24 23 29 32 31 29.5 Comparative 14 17 30 20 27 22 18 34 30 2623.8 example

As described above, it was found that the average of 29.5 sewing threadscan be sandwiched in the example, and more sewing threads can besandwiched than the average of 23.8 sewing threads in the comparativeexample.

Accordingly, it was demonstrated that more hair can be sandwiched byarranging the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 havingdifferent lengths adjacent to each other.

Example 2

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B, a description will be given ofthe example 2 in which a state in which hair sandwiched betweenfasteners according to the example and the comparative example isentangled with comb teeth is compared and observed using sewing threadslikened to hairs. FIG. 7A is a view (photograph) showing a state of hairwhen hair is sandwiched between the comb teeth and the reversing memberusing the fastener 2 of the example. FIG. 7B is a view (photograph)showing a state of hair when hair is sandwiched between the comb teethand the reversing member using the fastener 102 of the comparativeexample.

As indicated by an arrow in FIG. 7A, in the fastener 2 of the example,since the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 havingdifferent lengths form an uneven tip shape, it was found that hairorients not only along a direction in which the comb teeth 10 and 12extend, but also orients in a direction oblique to the direction inwhich the comb teeth 10 and 12 extend. On the other hand, in thefastener 102 of the comparative example in which all the comb teeth havethe same length, it was found that almost all the hairs orient in theextending direction of the comb teeth.

Accordingly, it was possible to demonstrate the factor that the force ofsandwiching and fixing the hair using the fastener 2 of the example islarger than the force of sandwiching and fixing the hair using thefastener 102 of the comparative example.

Example 3

Next, with reference to FIG. 8 , a description will be given of theexample 3 in which a force of sandwiching and fixing hair with thefastener 2 of the example and a force of sandwiching and fixing hairwith the fastener 102 of the comparative example are measured. FIG. 8 isa view (photograph) showing measuring, using a spring balance, a forcecapable of sandwiching the hair between the comb teeth and the reversingmember of the fastener and fixing the fastener to the hair.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the sewing thread likened to hair was sandwichedbetween the comb teeth and the reversing member of the fasteners 2 and102 of the example and the comparative example, and the force of fixingwas measured by pulling the fasteners 2 and 102 with the spring balance.

Specifically, the force of pulling the spring balance was increased, andthe value of the spring balance when the fasteners 2 and 102 started tomove was set as the force of fixing. As a result, the force of fixingwas 20 to 30 g in the fastener 102 of the comparative example, whereasthe force of fixing was 40 to 50 g in the fastener 2 of the example.

Accordingly, it was found that the force of fixing of the fastener 2 ofthe example is larger than the force of fixing of the fastener 102 ofthe comparative example. Therefore, it was demonstrated that in thefastener 2 of the example in which due to the first comb tooth 10 andthe second comb tooth 12 having different lengths, the sandwiched hairorients not only in the extending direction of the comb teeth but alsoin a direction oblique to the extending direction of the comb teeth, thefastener 2 can be fixed to the hair with a larger force.

As described above, in the fastener 2 including the first comb tooth 10and the second comb tooth 12 having different lengths, since the forceof sandwiching and fixing the hair is large, even when the lengths ofthe two facing short side portions 4 c and 4 d 1/d2 are shortened in thesubstantially quadrilateral planar shape of the reversing member 4, asufficient force of fixing can be secured. For example, in thesubstantially quadrilateral planar shape of the reversing member 4, whenthe length of the long side portion is L1 and the length of the shortside portion is L2, it was found that a sufficient force of fixing canbe obtained even when the value of L2/L1 is 0.3 or less. However, sincetoo large difference between the long side and the short side will alsohave a tendency of difficulty in use, the following range is consideredto be preferred:

0.2≤L2/L10.3.

Accordingly, even when the tips of the first comb tooth 10 and thesecond comb tooth 12 extend outside the substantially quadrilateralplanar shape, it is possible to suppress the catch in the net of the wigwhen the fastener 2 is attached to the wig base. Therefore, it ispossible to provide a fastener 2 making it easy to scoop up the user'shair and less likely to be caught in the net of the wig.

(Description of Wig to which Fastener is Attached)

Next, a wig to which the fastener according to the above-describedvarious embodiments is attached will be described with reference to FIG.9 . FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a wig to which thefastener according to the present invention is attached.

FIG. 9 shows a state of two fasteners 2 being attached to the backsurface side (the side in contact with the user's head) of the wig base30. In particular, they are attached to a region near the peripheraledge portion of the wig base 30, the region (temple) in front of theuser's ear. It should be noted that the number of fasteners 2 attachedto the wig base 30 is not limited to two, and any number of fasteners 2can be attached according to the application.

As a method for attaching the fastener 2 to the wig base 30, it isconceivable to sew the fastener 2 to the wig base 30, with a sewingthread passing through a plurality of attaching holes 24 or an openingof the coupling member 20 provided in the fastener 2. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and the fastener 2 can beattached to the wig base 30 by any known method including using anothercoupling member.

The false hairs 32 are planted in this wig base 30 to form the wig 40.When the user wears the wig 40, after the wig base 30 is worn on thehead portion, the user's hair is inserted between the comb teeth and thereversing member with the comb teeth of the fastener 2 in the region infront of the ear (temple) opened, and then the reversing member isreversed, and the hair is sandwiched between the comb teeth and thereversing member to be held.

Accordingly, the wig 40 can stably be fixed to the head portion.

Fastener According to Embodiments of Present Invention

As described above, the fastener 2 according to each of the aboveembodiments includes: a reversing member 4 having a long side portion 4a curved so that a central region in a longitudinal direction protrudes,the reversing member 4 made of an elastic material; and a plurality ofcomb teeth 10 and 12, each of the plurality of comb teeth 10 and 12connected at one end to the long side portion 4 a, another end of eachof the plurality of comb teeth 10 and 12 being a free end, the pluralityof comb teeth 10 and 12 extending in a direction intersecting thelongitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a, the plurality ofcomb teeth 10 and 12 arranged at predetermined intervals along thelongitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a. The plurality ofcomb teeth 10 and 12 include a first comb tooth 10 and a second combtooth 12 at least having different lengths from the one end to the otherend, and the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12 aredisposed adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of thelong side portion 4 a. The plurality of comb teeth 10 and 12 are changedto a state of being in proximity to and a state of being apart from thereversing member 4 by reversing of the reversing member 4.

Accordingly, a fastener 2 capable of switching between a state in whichcomb teeth 10 and 12 are closed and a state in which comb teeth 10 and12 are opened by reversing a reversing member, the fastener 2 capable ofsandwiching more user's hair and of being firmly fixed to the user'shair can be provided.

Furthermore, in the fastener 2 according to each of the aboveembodiments, in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a,a first comb teeth region 10A including the one first comb tooth 10 or aplurality of the first comb tooth 10 arranged adjacent to each other anda second comb teeth region 12A including the one second comb tooth 12 ora plurality of the second comb tooth 12 arranged adjacent to each otherare arranged adjacent to each other.

Accordingly, the hair having not been scooped up in the first comb teethregion 10A can be reliably scooped up in the adjacent second comb teethregion 12A having a smaller length.

In particular, in the first to third embodiments described above, in thelongitudinal direction of long side portion 4 a, since an arrangementpattern in which the first comb teeth region 10A and the second combteeth region 12A are alternately arranged in the longitudinal directionof the long side portion 4 a is provided, the hair can be reliablysandwiched between the comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4over substantially the entire region in the longitudinal direction ofthe long side portion 4 a.

Furthermore, in the fastener 2 according to each of the aboveembodiments, since the first comb tooth 10 and the second comb tooth 12are disposed symmetrically with respect to the central portion in thelongitudinal direction of the long side portion 4 a, the hair can besandwiched between the comb teeth 10 and 12 and the reversing member 4in a well-balanced manner, and thus fixing in which the fastener 2 isless likely to be displaced from the hair can be achieved.

The fastener according to the present invention can be applied not onlyto the application of fixing the wig base described above, but also toany other fields as long as an object to be fixed is inserted betweenthe comb teeth and the reversing member, the reversing member isreversed, and the object is sandwiched and fixed by the elastic force ofthe reversing member.

Although the embodiments of the present invention are described, thedisclosed content may vary in the details of the configuration, andcombinations of components or changes in order of components in theembodiments can be achieved without departing from the scope and spiritof the present invention claimed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   2 fastener-   4 reversing member-   4 a long side portion-   4 b another long side portion-   4 c short side portion-   4 d 1 short side portion-   4 d 2 short side portion-   6 friction member-   10 first comb tooth-   10 a shaft portion-   10 b head portion-   10A first comb teeth region-   12 second comb tooth-   12 a shaft portion-   12 b head portion-   12A second comb teeth region-   14 third comb tooth-   14 a shaft portion-   14 b head portion-   14A third comb teeth region-   20 coupling member-   22 a, 22 b coupling hole-   24 attaching hole-   30 wig base-   32 false hair-   40 wig

1. A fastener comprising: a reversing member having a long side portioncurved so that a central region in a longitudinal direction protrudes,the reversing member made of an elastic material; and a plurality ofcomb teeth, each of the plurality of comb teeth connected at one end tothe long side portion, another end of each of the plurality of combteeth being a free end, the plurality of comb teeth extending in adirection intersecting the longitudinal direction of the long sideportion, the plurality of comb teeth arranged at predetermined intervalsalong the longitudinal direction of the long side portion, wherein theplurality of comb teeth include a first comb tooth and a second combtooth at least having different lengths from the one end to the otherend, and the first comb tooth and the second comb tooth are disposedadjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the long sideportion, wherein the first comb tooth and the second comb tooth extendside by side from the one end to the other end, wherein the plurality ofcomb teeth are changed to a state of being in proximity to and a stateof being apart from the reversing member by reversing of the reversingmember, and wherein at a time of use, the first comb tooth and thesecond comb tooth sandwich hair of a user between the first comb toothand second comb tooth, and the reversing member in proximity.
 2. Thefastener according to claim 1, wherein in the longitudinal direction ofthe long side portion, a first comb teeth region including the one firstcomb tooth or a plurality of the first comb tooth arranged adjacent toeach other and a second comb teeth region including the one second combtooth or a plurality of the second comb tooth arranged adjacent to eachother are arranged adjacent to each other.
 3. The fastener according toclaim 2, further comprising an arrangement pattern in which the firstcomb teeth region and the second comb teeth region are alternatelyarranged in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion.
 4. Thefastener according to claim 1, wherein the first comb tooth and thesecond comb tooth are arranged symmetrically with respect to a centralportion in the longitudinal direction of the long side portion.
 5. Thefastener according to claim 1, wherein the reversing member has asubstantially quadrilateral planar shape including the long sideportion, another long side portion facing the long side portion andcurved so that a central region in a longitudinal direction protrudes,and two facing short side portions.
 6. The fastener according to claim5, further comprising a head portion at the free end of each of the combteeth, wherein the head portion is positioned outside the substantiallyquadrilateral planar shape.
 7. The fastener according to claim 5,wherein the other long side portion is provided with a friction member.8. The fastener according to claim 6, wherein the other long sideportion is provided with a friction member.